The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

“Bhishma said, ’Hearing these words of
their preceptor, Vyasa’s disciples endued with
energy, became filled with joy and embraced one another.
Addressing one another, they said,—­That
which has been said by our illustrious preceptor in
view of our future good, will live in our remembrance
and we shall certainly act according to it.—­Having
said this unto one another with joyful hearts, the
disciples of Vyasa, who were thorough masters of words,
once more addressed their preceptor and said,—­If
it pleases thee, O puissant one, we wish to descend
from this mountain to the Earth, O great ascetic,
for the purpose of subdividing the Vedas!—­Hearing
these words of his disciples, the puissant son of
Parasara replied unto them in these beneficial words
that were fraught, besides, with righteousness and
profit,—­You may repair to the Earth or
to the regions of the celestials, as ye like.
You should always be heedful, for the Vedas are such
that they are always liable to be misunderstood![1750]—­Permitted
by their preceptor of truthful speech, the disciples
left him after circumambulating him and bowing their
heads unto him. Descending upon the Earth they
performed the Agnishtoma and other sacrifices; and
they began to officiate at the sacrifices of Brahmanas
and Kshatriyas and Vaidyas. Happily passing their
days in the domestic mode of life, they were treated
by the Brahmanas with great respect. Possessed
of great fame and prosperity, they were employed in
teaching and officiating in sacrifices. After
his disciples had gone away, Vyasa remained in his
asylum, with only his son in his company. Passing
his days in anxious thoughtfulness, the great Rishi,
possessed of wisdom, kept silent, sitting in a retired
corner of the asylum. At that time Narada of
great ascetic merit came to that spot for seeing Vyasa,
and addressing him, said these words of melodious sound.

“’Narada said, O regenerate Rishi of Vasishtha’s
race, why are Vedic sounds silent now? Why art
thou sitting silent and alone engaged in meditation
like one taken up with an engrossing thought?
Alas, shorn of Vedic echoes, this mountain hath lost
its beauty, even as the Moon shorn of splendour when
assailed by Rahu or enveloped in dust.[1751] Though
inhabited by the celestial Rishis, yet shorn of Vedic
sounds, the mountain no longer looks beautiful now
but resembles a hamlet of Nishadas.[1752] The Rishis,
the deities, and the Gandharvas, too, no longer shine
as before in consequence of being deprived of Vedic
sound!—­Hearing these words of Narada, the
Island-born Krishna answered, saying,—­O
great Rishi, O thou art conversant with the declarations
of the Vedas, all that thou hast said is agreeable
to me and it truly behoves thee to say it unto me!
Thou omniscient, thou hast seen everything. Thy
curiosity also embraces all things within its sphere.
All that has ever occurred in the three worlds is
well known to thee. Do thou then, O regenerate
Rishi, set thy commands on me. O, tell me what
I am to do! Tell me, O regenerate Rishi, what
should now be done by me. Separated from my disciples,
my mind has become very cheerless now.